Make children smile! Enjoy the nature of Kumano at the playground created by irokumakids ♪ Play to your heart's content and keep your mind and body healthy!

KumanoCity is surrounded by the great nature of the sea, mountains, and rivers, and in addition to tourist attractions such as the World Heritage Site "Kumano Kodo," there are many unknown play spots that will help children grow and smile. there is.

Among them, "irokuma kids", which we will introduce this time, is a "professional play group" based in KumanoCity! This is a recommended playground in Kumano that is not even listed in guidebooks, and will make your child's dreams come true.

Currently, the ``Kumano Playground'' where ``irokuma kids'' is working on creating play activities are mainly ``Akakura'', which has the charm of mountains and rivers, and ``Hadase'', which has the charm of the sea.

This time, let's have fun with "Akakura" as the stage.

Akakura is a small mountain village located on a mountain pass from KumanoCity.
It is a place so rich in nature that until recently there was no cell phone signal.

This time, we will be based at Yamazato Minpaku Akakura, an inn where you can experience life in the countryside, and have a variety of experiences.

``It's like coming to grandma's house,'' said the mother of the family experiencing it today. This is a private lodging facility that gives you a nostalgic feel.

Before starting the experience, first wash your hands in cool and pleasant mountain water!
As a preventive measure against infectious diseases, we will disinfect and take your temperature before checking in.

Today, we will try the experience menu in the following order: 1) Making authentic pizza baked in a pizza oven → 2) Making bamboo bows and arrows & playing with bows and arrows → 3) Playing with an improvised hammock!


"Let's try making some pizza right away," said Mr. Inoue, the representative of irokuma kids.
The place where we make pizza is a garden with an outstanding view of the great nature of Akakura.

First, we measured and mixed strong flour and soft flour by ourselves.

Mr. Inoue explains the principle in an easy-to-understand manner, saying, ``This kid (yeast) works hard to make it rise, and the sugar helps it rise!''

The children seem to be having fun doing the experiment too!

“Then let’s knead it 300 times next time!”
"Be delicious! Be delicious!"

The children worked hard too!

We also light the pizza oven ourselves to warm it up.
Here too, he taught us how to start a fire!

It started to rain lightly, so we moved inside the guest house.
Feel safe even on rainy days ♩


Now cut the ingredients and prepare the toppings!
He explains how to use tools that need to be handled with care, such as knives, and the children prepare them themselves.

Let's all work together and get ready!
You cut it well! That's a cute face♪

The dough and toppings are ready! Let's serve it up♪

Put it in a hot pizza oven and it's ready in 3 minutes!
The only original pizza in the world has been created!

The children had fun thinking about it, trying out different toppings to make a lion's face, making a mushroom-shaped pizza, etc. The ideas the children came up with were so interesting!

It just stopped raining, so we decided to eat it outside!
Freshly made pizza eaten in the middle of nature... it's exceptional ♪

"Next time, let's make a bow and arrow!" Inoue said.
What he brought was a piece of bamboo that he picked from the mountain behind the mountain!
It is said that they will make bows and arrows from this state.


After splitting the bamboo with a machete,

Prepare the surface with a plane and cut to your desired length with a saw!
Everything is done by the children.

While being thoroughly taught how to use the tools, they are curious and try their hand at it.

Adjust each length to a convenient length to create your own bow and arrow!
A masterpiece that took about an hour and a half to make! The children are dying to shoot arrows.

"Never let it fly when there are people in front of you."
Check the precautions to take when flying, and let's go.

Let's fly it in the back mountain!

*The tip of the arrow is wrapped with cloth to prevent injury.

It seemed difficult to fly at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's yours! It's a lot of fun as we compete to see who can fly the ball far ♩

Dad joins in too! It's so fun that even adults can't help but fall in love with it.

Once you're done playing, relax in an instant hammock ♪
You can easily make it anywhere you like using just unused curtains and rope.

Completion of special seats ♩ It's okay for adults to ride!
``I want to try it at home next time,'' said Mom, who also likes it.

Today's experience ended with making authentic pizza, making a bow and arrow, and playing in an improvised hammock!
We were able to play for a whole day and everyone was very satisfied!

One thing I noticed here.
Looking back at today's play menu, we found that there were no special play equipment or tools provided, but that the children enjoyed making tools as well.

It's irokuma kids' ``play'', including the process of creating it.

``A plan is just a plan! Even during the experience, if the children's interests turn to something else, we want to let them play that game at that moment.This can also give us hints for new ways to play.
Also, as children's lack of exercise and feelings of confinement are becoming a problem due to the coronavirus pandemic, I would like to do activities that will bring smiles to children's faces and improve their mental and physical health by allowing them to play to their heart's content with Kumano's nature without anyone interfering with them. . Furthermore, through this activity, I believe that if we can once again make Akakura a village where the sounds of children's laughter can be heard, it will also bring smiles to the faces of those who are connected to it. ” said Inoue.

Mr. Inoue always stands at the same level as the children and plays seriously, and the parents and mothers who participated with him were able to regain the feeling they had when playing when they were little.
The experience, which is limited to one group in an environment surrounded only by nature, is perfect for relaxing and forgetting the stress of the coronavirus pandemic.
Wouldn't you like to smile with irokuma kids, which spreads a chain of smiles to children, adults, and even the community? It is also recommended for relieving lack of exercise!


This time we experienced three games, but there are many other games at irokuma kids♪

[Somen slider! ]
For nagashi somen, you can cut and split the bamboo and come up with your own course.

*Applications can be accepted on your desired dates from May to September.

[Smoked Kumano blessings]
You can enjoy smoked ingredients recommended by Kumano's smokers.
In addition to the standard items like overnight dried amago, cheese, and hanpen, the potato chips and smoked chocolate are also delicious!

[Rampage in the muddy pool in the rice field! ]
Get muddy and have fun playing dodgeball, running, tethering, and more!
We welcome any other projects you would like to try♪

*2021 has ended. It will be held around late April in 2022!

[Packraft & authentic pizza! Creating the best summer memories]
This summer, a collaboration project between irokuma kids and Kuma no River Play Club is coming!
After enjoying Kumano's majestic river on a packraft, a safe boat that even children can easily enjoy, enjoy authentic pizza on the riverside.

Kumakawabu Play Club link: https://www.kumakawabu.com/

[Long-term stay type work plan is also attractive. ]
Remote work is possible in a comfortable Wi-Fi environment.
Don't worry, the staff at irokuma kids will play with the children while mom and dad are working! If you're surrounded by nature, away from the hustle and bustle, you'll probably come up with new ideas!

[We also have long-term programs that run for 3-4 months! ]
Build a secret base like a tree house, build a raft, and head out into the ocean♪ Days like an adventure await you, unique to long-term participation.

It's great that you can decide the content of the play according to your wishes!
To apply, please use the inquiry form on the official website ♩

【Facility information】
irokuma kids
Address: 554 Kimotocho, KumanoCity City, Mie Prefecture (office)
Email address info@irokumakids.com
Official URL https://irokumakids.com/
Access by public transportation JR KumanoCity Station (*Depends on the play area)
Access by car: Within 40 minutes by car from Kumano Odomari IC (*varies depending on the play area)
Parking available (*We will provide information for each playground)